The gunshots rang throughout the building pulling his focus off Padgett. Without a second thought he ran up the stairs to the lift and when the doors didn't reply immediately to his bashing the button he charged for the stairway. He took the steps in twos and threes, bounding onto the fourth floor, running for his own apartment. The silence behind it scared him more than if there had been screaming. With a well-placed kick he broke in through the door and stood shocked at what met him.
She lay motionless on his floor by his low coffee table. Her gun was in her hand still held tightly. His shock dissolved into fear as he approached her and knelt by her side. There was blood on her blouse and trailing down to her neck, pooling slightly beneath her head. Afraid to touch her but needing to he slowly reached out to her, unsure of where to start.
With a jump she yanked up her arms, defensively across herself, before she saw who it was. Half sitting up she grabbed him and pulled him close. He held her tightly as she clawed at his back as if she needed to feel him closer than it would be possible to get. Deep sobs wracked her chest as she cried openly and freely into his chest.
Barely able to stop himself from matching her sobs he held her tight against him, burying his face into her hair, he whispered softly to her until her sobs quietened. He shifted his weight and sat fully onto the floor, pulling her onto his lap he rocked her gently and stroked her hair.